In Your Words - If you could switch jobs with another educator, what would you try?

Photo by Steven Lankford

As a small town high school counselor, I’ve never worked in a city larger than 20,000. I’d love to try a day at a large urban school. Our small, homogeneous student body is predominantly White and middle class, and I’m always challenged to show kids the value of travel, risk-taking, and diversity in friendships. I’d like to demonstrate by getting out of my own comfort zone, making new friends, and knowing the enrichment that comes by experiencing a different environment.

Cathy TyinkWest Salem, Wisconsin

My daughter and her family live in the Highlands area of Aspen.

My dream exchange would be with Aspen High School. This district spends $10,862 per student; in Idaho, we average $6,152. In Aspen, students participate in service, adventure, and cultural trips that are designed to educate the whole child.

Wow! What does that look like?

I know they have a reading specialist, and I am so interested in their curriculum. I have been the Coeur d ‘Alene High School reading specialist for seven years, and this is my first year with a curriculum!

In a time of cutbacks and few in-service opportunities, I’d find this possibility exciting and full of learning opportunities

Bette PriceCoeur d ‘Alene, Idaho

I’m a 6th-grade core teacher (English/history), and if I could change jobs for one day, it would be with a physical education teacher. You don’t have to correct tons of papers; you get to dress comfortably; you don’t need neat handwriting; you get to know all the kids in school; you normally teach only one skill per day; and, above all, you still get a prep each day!

Melissa FisherDublin, California

Changing age groups would be both fun and enlightening. As a high school special educator, I would like to spend a day in the middle or elementary schools. A day in someone else’s shoes would answer a lot of questions about the joys and challenges of other age groups and the people who teach them.

Tarrance LasherRichmondville, New York

I teach health sciences, but I have always been fascinated with English literature. I have a history of working with psych patients, and all of the great characters of major literary works have psychological issues. I’d love to point out the correlations of the characters’ issues to what my students are studying in the health sciences. I even have a display up now of the “Clinical Diagnosis of Macbeth.”

Kelli DobyWinston-Salem, North Carolina

I would change jobs with a high school head football coach. I have a great love for football and my competitive juices flow often. I would love the chance to help shape and mold a football team into an accomplished bunch of young men who win with character and give their best effort in the pursuit of excellence.

Mark CohenHuntington Beach, California

We Want to Hear From You

Tell us, in your words, about the last day of school you’ll never forget! Use specific examples and anecdotes, and we’ll consider your submission for an upcoming issue of NEA Today. Visit the NEA Today Forums or send an email to Cindy Long.

COMMENTS:

I did not write what is written and attributed to me. It may be a different person, but I don't want to swap with the football coach, ever.

Lou | 2010/03/19

Physical Education teachers often teach Health in addition to Physical Education. That means we have to give homework and tests, correct same and compute grades for same. We often teach several grade levels in both areas so we are teaching more that one skill a day.

Cathy | 2010/03/08

I read with disappointment the lack of knowledge of the physical education and arts education curricula as printed by M. Fisher ?In Your Words? ?If you could switch jobs?? article in the March/April 2010 edition of the neatoday magazine. As minority number educators in our specialties, we are constantly educating parents about the curricula. It is disheartening that our colleagues do not take the time or have the understanding of the depth of arts/phy ed curricula and that we prepare lessons to meet several developmental levels with many skills in each level. The letter states that this teacher thinks specialists teach only one skill per day, do not handwrite (we use computers to report grades weekly on all the students), and dress appropriately for the curricula we teach. We need the prep for more than lessons since we prep materials, equipment, monitor ship/receive records, follow up on behaviors for all the students, etc. We also usually have other school wide duties. And we do this without silent reading time, study hall, rotating recess duty, etc.
I noticed that the neatoday magazine has neglected for several years to praise the curricula in the arts especially Music in our Schools Month and Youth Art Month celebrated Nationally since 1961 in the month of March. Shame on you for not correcting the letter of misinformed teacher colleagues. More positive support of all teachers in all areas would be refreshing to see.

Lauren | 2010/03/07

I'd switch places with one of the "coordinators" or "specialists" in any part of the school system. I honestly want to see what they actually do all day. There are no job descriptions for them, no set schedule, etc. Honestly curious.

Cheree | 2010/03/03

Have you ever thought about becoming an active member of O Ambassadors? It is a great way to expose your students to new things, people, and places. They can interact and even travel to another country. I did it and it changed the lives of three inner city students who had never left the state. Keep at it, you will succeed at changing your students perspective about life, education, and diversity.

Rickie | 2010/02/27

ART! It is creative- it stretches the mind- it uses multiple materials- it is hands on and does not have its state test scores posted in the paper determining AYP- oh, that's right, there is no state test. Really though, I love art.

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